We constantly see articles, news stories and blog posts about “the cloud.” However, our clients still have numerous questions about this mysterious cloud and how it works.
While cloud computing has become the norm, most experts expect everyone to just accept it as a viable solution versus providing clear details. In our opinion, the mystery comes from too much tech jargon that makes the entire concept seem a bit cloudy.
What Is The “Cloud”?
Some people say the term “cloud” and expect it to explain everything, but what is this cloud and where is it? This TechCrunch article sums up the confusion quite well. The cloud isn’t a singular thing, but an entire collection of technologies working in sync to provide data storage, app hosting, remote work opportunities and more.
While none of these technologies resemble a cloud, the cloud is actually a remote server or set of servers that provide all the computing power necessary to handle whatever tasks a business needs. Since it’s remote, it may seem about as far away as a cloud.
How Does It All Work?
The Internet is an amazing concept and it’s made cloud computing possible. Instead of a business having to invest in expensive servers and other hardware, much of their computing can be done online. Businesses rent space and hardware (for dedicated servers) and access the content remotely.
For instance, we perform backups of all of our data regularly, but we don’t store it on-site. Instead, we rent space for data storage from a cloud service provider. Our backups are stored on remote servers securely and when we need them, we access them. However, we don’t have to maintain the hardware on-site to handle that much storage.
How Secure Is The Cloud?
Now for the real mystery behind the cloud. Why would anyone just hand over their proprietary data to a third party without a second thought? They wouldn’t or at least, they shouldn’t. We would never trust a third party with our data without verifying the security measures.
Cloud security comes in various forms. We recommend businesses first understand the threats for different types of cloud computing and the biggest threats surrounding cloud computing in general. The next step is verifying what types of encryption is used and when, such as during transmission and/or storage. Reputable cloud service providers use advanced firewalls and anti-malware suites to limit the risk of breaches.
In most cases, reputable cloud providers are more secure than individual businesses. Their main focus is keeping the data secure and easily accessible to their clients.
Still have questions about cloud computing? Don’t let it be a mystery any longer. Contact our team today to learn more.